Testosterone is not the 'female Viagra' after all
When a testosterone patch for women was launched in 2007, it was hailed by the media as the 'female Viagra'. Called Intrinsa, it aimed to boost the sex drive of women who'd had their menopause brought on by surgery to remove their womb. But now, an independent drug guide has recommended that women avoid Intrinsa, saying that the benefits are limited and the long-term safety uncertain.What do we know already?Intrinsa was launched on the NHS in March 2007, having been through the European Union's safety approval a year earlier. It was intended to help low sex drive in women who'd had their menopause brought on by surgery to remove their womb and ovaries (a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy), and who were also taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Low sex drive, or absence of sexual desire, is known medically as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).Testosterone is often described as a male...
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